UFAW Programmes

The Garden Bird Health Initiative

Established as a UFAW Working Group in 2003, the GBHi set out to:

Develop and publish guidelines about how to best feed garden birds in order to maximize the benefits for their welfare and conservation;
Undertake a major garden bird health surveillance and research project.

Recent Update – September 2008

Trichomonas is a single-cell parasite that can cause a disease known as trichomonosis in British birds. Trichomonas typically causes disease at the back of the throat and in the gullet. Affected birds may drool saliva, regurgitate food, have difficulty in swallowing or show laboured breathing. The disease may progress over several days or even weeks, consequently affected birds are often emaciated.

Trichomonosis was first seen in British finch species in summer 2005. An epidemic of disease caused by this parasite occurred in both 2006 and 2007, peaking in the late summer and autumn months, affecting birds over a wide geographical area across Britain. Whilst greenfinches and chaffinches are the species that have been most frequently affected, other garden bird species, including house sparrows, are susceptible to the condition.

Mortality due to trichomonosis in 2008 has, to date, followed a similar pattern to the previous two years: during late summer we have seen an increase in disease outbreaks in comparison to previous months. This increase in disease outbreaks does not appear to have been greater than in previous years. By the end of the year we will be able to analyse the seasonal pattern for 2008, determine those regions of the country in which outbreaks have been most frequent, and compare these patterns to previous years.

The GBHi recommends following sensible hygiene precautions as a routine measure when feeding garden birds and handling bird feeders and tables. Specific advice on disease control is available in the GBHi Factsheet on Trichomonosis (below).

If you find sick and dead garden birds, please help us monitor the spread and intensity of disease outbreaks by reporting your observation to the Garden Bird Health initiative Tel: 0207 449 6685 (Monday – Friday 09.00 -17.00 hrs). Alternatively you can complete the questionnaire below, and send it back to UFAW at the email address specified.

Download the GBHi disease questionnaire

Download the GBHi Factsheet - Trichomoniasis

Download the GBHi Factsheet - Avian Pox

Further information on the surveillance and research project

Disease outbreaks occur quite commonly in garden birds and the research, started in March 2005, is aimed at investigating their causes and prevention. This project is being coordinated by the Institute of Zoology, and also involves the collaboration of the Scottish Agricultural College, Liverpool University, the Wildlife Veterinary Investigation Centre, the British Trust for Ornithology, the RSPB and UFAW.

Garden birds, particularly finch species and house sparrows, are susceptible to a variety of conditions including infection with Salmonella bacteria or the Trichomonas parasite. Clinical signs (symptoms) can be very similar for different diseases and post mortem examination is required to confirm the cause of any garden bird mortality.

Further information on these conditions, including advice on disease prevention and control, is available in the factsheets below:

Download the GBHi Factsheet - Salmonellosis

Download a copy of the GBHi Avian Influenza Fact Sheet - June 2009

You can help keep garden birds healthy.

find out about best practice feeding with the GBHi booklet
participate in the garden bird surveillance programme. If you see signs of disease (eg: lethargy, fluffed-up plumage, inability to fly) or dead birds call 0207-449-6685 (Institute of Zoology)
make a donation to the garden bird research project here

A 32-page booklet Feeding Garden Birds: Best practice guidelines is now available, price £4.99 each. With colour photos throughout, the booklet reviews food types and feeding practices, discusses food quantity and quality, the siting and design of feeders, and outlines some common diseases and minimising the risks of their occurrence. You can order a copy here

The GBHi has been generously sponsored by:

CJ Wildbird Foods Ltd
Gardman Ltd
Cranswick Pet Products
The Birdcare Standards Association
The British Veterinary Association Animal Welfare Foundation
The RSPB
UFAW

Thanks to generous sponsorship we have been able to make a very substantial start on surveillance and research into garden bird health. The necessary post mortem investigations and diagnostic tests are expensive (over £100 per bird examined) and we are urgently seeking further support to pursue this important work. If you would like to make a donation, this would be most gratefully received – please click here